California Chrome keeps historic bid alive in Preakness

Tim Wilkin

Updated 12:38 am, Sunday, May 18, 2014

Horse racing might have a thoroughbred for the ages. A 3-year-old colt named California Chrome, who has been doubted all spring, erased any remaining naysayers Saturday when he posted a rousing victory in the 139th Preakness Stakes in front of a record crowd of 123,469 at Pimlico Race Course.

California Chrome won the 1 3/16-mile Preakness by 11/2 lengths and now has seen his personal winning streak climb to six races.

More important, California Chrome will head next to Belmont Race Track on June 7 for a chance to claim the Triple Crown -- something the sport has not seen since Affirmed did it in 1978.

"I tell you, I wouldn't want to be in anybody else's shoes right now," Art Sherman, California Chrome's 77-year-old trainer, said at the post-race news conference. "I think the horse is a phenomenal horse. I know right now we're running on a high. But I think when we get to Belmont, this horse is going to run big. I really do."

For the sixth straight race, California Chrome, the California-bred with the modest pedigree, ran big. Ridden by Victor Espinoza, California Chrome powered to the lead going into the far turn and then he opened up in the stretch.

California Chrome, the overwhelming 1-2 favorite in the field of 10, then held off Ride On Curlin, and the Triple Crown was alive and well and headed for the Empire State.

"The Triple Crown," Steve Coburn, one of the colt's co-owners, said with a shake of the head. "You know what? I don't mean to be bold or cocky or arrogant, because I've said this. I've said it a hundred times if I've said it once. When I saw this colt, when I saw this baby when he was a day old, I told my wife, Carolyn, this horse is going to do something big."

Coburn, the 61-year-old native of Nevada who is a line worker in a factory, will get the chance to see if California Chrome can do what 12 other horses since Affirmed have failed to do: win the Triple Crown after taking the Derby and Preakness.

Thoroughbred racing has been starving for a Triple Crown winner, and here is one of the unlikeliest candidates on the doorstep, ready to gallop into history. His sire, Lucky Pulpit, was just as obscure as his mare, Love the Chase. Their son is two-thirds of the way to racing immortality.

California Chrome has won his past six starts by a combined 27 1/2 lengths. In the Preakness, he and Espinoza made it look easy, although the jockey, who won the 2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness with War Emblem (they lost to Sarava in the Belmont), said this race was tougher than it looked.

"The Preakness was tough, I'm telling you," Espinoza said. "There were some fresh horses, and they attacked me."

He was referring to speedy Social Inclusion and jockey Luis Conteras, who was on the outside of California Chrome on the turn. But the classy Chrome just seemed to shrug off his competition. Espinoza then had to brace for the late run of Ride On Curlin, who was seventh in the Derby.

"California Chrome ran a great race, and he's a great horse," said Billy Gowan, the trainer of Ride On Curlin. "My horse came running in the stretch and gave me a heckuva thrill. I'm really proud. I like the horse. I like everything!"

California Chrome was timed in 1:54.84.

Social Inclusion finished 6 1/2 lengths behind Ride On Curlin, and General a Rod was fourth. California Chrome paid $3, $3 and $2.40. General a Rod is owned by Starlight Racing, which is managed by Duanesburg's Don Lucarelli and his wife Barbara as well as Jack and Laurie Wolf, who have homes in Louisville and Saratoga Springs.

"I thought we got clobbered on the far turn," Jack Wolf said. "But we had plenty of run coming home. I don't know if we would have beat the horse that won. (General a Rod) ran OK."

The lone filly in the race, Ria Antonia, was prominent early but faded to finish last.